SUNY New Paltz Park Point apartments hearing to resume Dec. 10

This combination of a satellite photo and a computer-generated image shows where the proposed Park Point apartment complex would be located in relation to the SUNY New Paltz campus. (Image from www.parkpointnewpaltz.com)

NEW PALTZ -- The Town Planning Board has recessed a public hearing until Dec. 10 on the proposed SUNY New Paltz Park Point plan to add a 252-unit apartment complex for students and staff.

The session is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Town Hall on state Route 32.

Planning Board Chairman Michael Calimano said questions about the project during two recent public hearing sessions included concerns the project would apply for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes plan and whether there would be environmentally friendly infrastructure.

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"Obviously anything this size the taxes and impact on the community are important and that was raised a number of times," he said. "The other was how energy-efficient are these buildings and what are they doing to minimize the carbon footprint. It's kind of a global statement, but it's what a lot of people asked about."

College officials have declined to provide information about the construction cost for the project.

Developers from Wilmorite report there will be a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes plan sought for the project which would provide "an increased tax base ... as opposed to the current tax-exempt status and reduced assessment agricultural value tax status (on) 8 acres of the land currently comprising the project" area.

The apartments are proposed to be on a 50-acre site near state Route 32 southeast of the college campus. It would be funded through SUNY New Paltz Foundation's support organization Goshawk LLC, which purchased 42 acres from the Moriello family and will work with the family for use of the remaining 8 acres.

The Rochester-based Wilmorite Inc. has created apartment complexes called Park Point at Syracuse University and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

A college fact sheet says there would be 732 beds and parking for 436 vehicle under a project that would be completed in two phases.

College officials in a press release said the facility would help increase the number of students that can be accommodated on the campus, which is currently within the village limits and would be expanded to adjacent property in the town near state Route 32.

In the environmental impact statement the first phase would be completed next year on 176 units with the remaining 76 units ready in 2015.

Calimano said the developers has offered to construct water and sewer facilities that could be expanded to serve the town.

"That's one of the positive notes," he said. "They're putting water and sewer in areas where the town has looked for industrial development."